288 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



brown. The lower surface is white broken by two bands of 

 yellowish upon the neck. There is also a conspicuous white 

 spot upon the rump. 



The antelope is essentially a prairie animal, and sedulously 

 avoids the timber. Its companions are the coyotes and the 

 prairie hare, as well as its more nearly related fellow, the buf- 

 falo. Like the last, it is gregarious, and like the first, extremely 

 fleet of foot ; indeed, it is said to surpass all other native 

 mammals in fleetness, yet is comparatively short of wind. It 

 seems to be well settled from observations by Dr. Canfield, that 

 in an entirely natural state the antelope is eminently grega- 

 rious. He says : * ' From the first of September to the first of 

 March antelopes meet in bands, the bucks, does and kids, all 

 together. At the end of that time the does separate themselves 

 from the band, one by one, to drop their kids; they produce 

 two at a birth. After a little time the does collect together 

 with their young, probably for mutual protection against co- 

 yotes, the old bucks in the meantime go off alone, each by him- 

 self, or at most two together, leaving the young bucks and 

 young does together in small bands. * * * Any particular 

 band of antelopes does not leave the locality where they grow 

 up, and never range more than a few miles in different direc- 

 tions." 



The males are said to be very belligerent during the rutting 

 season and the female is credited with much courage and ad- 

 dress in protecting her young from the coyote and other foes. 

 Males are said to be exceedingly salacious. 



The antelope is said to possess unusual powers of expressing 

 emotions, as will be gathered from the following passage from 

 the much quoted volume of Judge Caton: 



* 'I had placed him in a close cage in the evening, intending 

 to familiarize him with my presence, and divest him of his 

 fears when he saw me by convincing him that I would not hurt 

 him. When I approached him the next morning he seemed 

 struck with terror and made frantic efforts to break out, which 

 he soon found was impossible. His great black eyes glistened 

 in affright. I spoke softly and kindly while he stood trembling 

 as I introduced my hand and placed it on his shoulder. Des- 

 pair now seemed to possess him, and he dropped on to his 

 knees, bowed his head and burst into a copious flood of tears, 

 which coursed down his cheeks and wet the floor." 



The long white hair of the rump is said to bristle under ex - 

 citement. 



